MP-100 considered Retired? MP-44 Question!

Midget_Boy · 10-21-2004, 10:51 PM

Well lately I've been looking for MP-100 information and have searched many Yonex international sites, and most of them don't include the MP-100 anymore in their product catologues. For example I have searched the Yonex America and Yonex UK sites and I haven't found the MP-100 at all, leaving the MP-99 as the top model of today. However I did search the Yonex Japan site and the MP-100 still resides their in Yonex's lineup. Is the MP-100 considered retired in many parts of the world? Is it still availiable in places to be bought new (for example, Canada), or is it Just Japan, or is it still Widely available across Asia?

Another question is, if the MP-100 is retired for many parts of the world, why is it? I havn't been up to date with badminton equipment/Yonex news lately, and the MP-99 is now the best racquet available. Why is the MP-100 out, and the MP-99 now the best racquet? Was it because of the slight differences between the two racquets that made the MP-100 so much more expensive, thus lacking buyers, than to the cheaper model, MP-99, or something else? I don't remember much, but the only differences I can think of apart the two were the Stiffness, and that the MP-100 had the "Ti Mesh" feature in the racuqet.

Now for my second question, about half a year ago, I purchased a MP-44, and it played extremely well, however just a little while ago I noticed that some of the grommets on the frame were stretched out, and seemed flimsy, though none are loose, broken, and the racquet is still in good shape. I've looked it up on the internet, and usually Yonex Racquets have strong tough Grommets that cannot be warped, and those that do are fakes. However that is the only symptom, and other than that, everything else on the racquet seems legit, as the serial code is engraved for an example. The racuqte is light, plays well like a real one, I purchased from a good liscenced dealer (I think, its been around for over 20 years, and Yonex being it's specialty). Maybe the wearing of the grommets is a natural thing that happens to all racquets as they age, or maybe because I strung the racquet at 20 lbs. with a Ti-68?

SaintDragon · 10-21-2004, 11:38 PM

The US Yonex website never updates : \

Midget_Boy · 10-22-2004, 12:17 AM

It updated about a month after the 2004 line-up of racquets were released, though it was a very poor job, as the lesser MP racquets weren't shown, the AT-800s weren't shown, and big flaws in the Iso and Cabs were the absense of many 2004 racquets. Even the UK sight had more, thought it took about 3 months after the new 2004 lineup before their update.

*Mag* · 10-22-2004, 02:13 AM

Well, the MP-100 is certainly not "retired" here in Europe.

And regarding grommets, they do wear out. Even Yonex ones.

bluejeff · 10-22-2004, 02:42 AM

Companies make new products to attract more buyers, and badminton racket companies tend to do the same. When Yonex introduced MP series several years ago, it was a huge bam (big enough

) to the badminton world. Many rackets, such as MP100, 88(old color), 77(old color), 55 were having very nice sales and Yes, they are all very fine rackets.

However, as time went by, MP rackets are still not too different from each others although there are many later models introduced, such as MP99, 88(blue), 77(purple-silver), 66, 44.....etc. In order to keep leading the badminton market, Yonex need to come up with something newer than MP series. So, AT series started to take the field.

It's just as simple as companies make new products and discontinue the old ones; It's not rocket science

Midget_Boy · 10-22-2004, 03:47 PM

But still, the MP-100 was the top racquet, and usually a company only discontinues an older racquet if there is a newer successor, but I don't think the MP-99 is a successor, its actually slightly lesser than the discontinued MP-100?

Well as I said earlier, I stopping looking at Yonex news for a long time (about half a year), so if the MP-100 is retired, what is the upcoming top product that Yonex has to offer?

*kwun* · 10-22-2004, 08:11 PM

the successor to the MP100 is the Armortec series.

a few points...

each regional Yonex distributor selects the line up of their own country according to the local demand. they should've done all the marketing study and determines what would be the best lineup of models best for the next season. other things like weight and grip sizes are also determined this way. as a result, you can see that there are differences in available models available to different regions.

therefore although, MP100 is discontinued in the UK, it is still widely available in SE Asia.

building on that fact, and that the demand for rackets in the UK (and US/CD for that matter) is much lower than in SE Asia. therefore you generally see a smaller lineup of products in these countries. it is wise to maintain a smaller lineup to not confuse consumers as well as limit the stock held.

the MP100 is a 4 years old model. it was introduced after the summer Olympics in Sydney. Yonex usually have a 2-3 yrs shelf life on products, as well as a 18-24 months cycle on introducing a completely new series. they must to this to survive, consumers always prefer the recent and most "technologically advance" product. if Yonex doesn't come up with one, then consumers will go to another brand.

in fact, Yonex has stopped pushing the MP100 into the market. even from the pros. you will see that Yonex is encouraging them to use the MP99, and more recently, the AT700/800. the bright yellow MP99 has a much higher exposure in the pro circuit and from market imho has replaced MP100 as the flagship.

10-21-2004, 10:51 PM	#1
Midget_Boy Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 351	MP-100 considered Retired? MP-44 Question! Well lately I've been looking for MP-100 information and have searched many Yonex international sites, and most of them don't include the MP-100 anymore in their product catologues. For example I have searched the Yonex America and Yonex UK sites and I haven't found the MP-100 at all, leaving the MP-99 as the top model of today. However I did search the Yonex Japan site and the MP-100 still resides their in Yonex's lineup. Is the MP-100 considered retired in many parts of the world? Is it still availiable in places to be bought new (for example, Canada), or is it Just Japan, or is it still Widely available across Asia? Another question is, if the MP-100 is retired for many parts of the world, why is it? I havn't been up to date with badminton equipment/Yonex news lately, and the MP-99 is now the best racquet available. Why is the MP-100 out, and the MP-99 now the best racquet? Was it because of the slight differences between the two racquets that made the MP-100 so much more expensive, thus lacking buyers, than to the cheaper model, MP-99, or something else? I don't remember much, but the only differences I can think of apart the two were the Stiffness, and that the MP-100 had the "Ti Mesh" feature in the racuqet. Now for my second question, about half a year ago, I purchased a MP-44, and it played extremely well, however just a little while ago I noticed that some of the grommets on the frame were stretched out, and seemed flimsy, though none are loose, broken, and the racquet is still in good shape. I've looked it up on the internet, and usually Yonex Racquets have strong tough Grommets that cannot be warped, and those that do are fakes. However that is the only symptom, and other than that, everything else on the racquet seems legit, as the serial code is engraved for an example. The racuqte is light, plays well like a real one, I purchased from a good liscenced dealer (I think, its been around for over 20 years, and Yonex being it's specialty). Maybe the wearing of the grommets is a natural thing that happens to all racquets as they age, or maybe because I strung the racquet at 20 lbs. with a Ti-68?

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10-21-2004, 11:38 PM	#2
SaintDragon Regular Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: UCLA Posts: 151	The US Yonex website never updates : \

10-22-2004, 12:17 AM	#3
Midget_Boy Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 351	It updated about a month after the 2004 line-up of racquets were released, though it was a very poor job, as the lesser MP racquets weren't shown, the AT-800s weren't shown, and big flaws in the Iso and Cabs were the absense of many 2004 racquets. Even the UK sight had more, thought it took about 3 months after the new 2004 lineup before their update.

10-22-2004, 02:13 AM	#4
Mag Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 3,307	Well, the MP-100 is certainly not "retired" here in Europe. And regarding grommets, they do wear out. Even Yonex ones.

10-22-2004, 02:42 AM	#5
bluejeff Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: TW Posts: 3,933	Companies make new products to attract more buyers, and badminton racket companies tend to do the same. When Yonex introduced MP series several years ago, it was a huge bam (big enough ) to the badminton world. Many rackets, such as MP100, 88(old color), 77(old color), 55 were having very nice sales and Yes, they are all very fine rackets. However, as time went by, MP rackets are still not too different from each others although there are many later models introduced, such as MP99, 88(blue), 77(purple-silver), 66, 44.....etc. In order to keep leading the badminton market, Yonex need to come up with something newer than MP series. So, AT series started to take the field. It's just as simple as companies make new products and discontinue the old ones; It's not rocket science

10-22-2004, 03:47 PM	#6
Midget_Boy Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 351	But still, the MP-100 was the top racquet, and usually a company only discontinues an older racquet if there is a newer successor, but I don't think the MP-99 is a successor, its actually slightly lesser than the discontinued MP-100? Well as I said earlier, I stopping looking at Yonex news for a long time (about half a year), so if the MP-100 is retired, what is the upcoming top product that Yonex has to offer?

10-22-2004, 08:11 PM	#7
kwun Administrator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Santa Clara, CA, USA Posts: 20,012	the successor to the MP100 is the Armortec series. a few points... each regional Yonex distributor selects the line up of their own country according to the local demand. they should've done all the marketing study and determines what would be the best lineup of models best for the next season. other things like weight and grip sizes are also determined this way. as a result, you can see that there are differences in available models available to different regions. therefore although, MP100 is discontinued in the UK, it is still widely available in SE Asia. building on that fact, and that the demand for rackets in the UK (and US/CD for that matter) is much lower than in SE Asia. therefore you generally see a smaller lineup of products in these countries. it is wise to maintain a smaller lineup to not confuse consumers as well as limit the stock held. the MP100 is a 4 years old model. it was introduced after the summer Olympics in Sydney. Yonex usually have a 2-3 yrs shelf life on products, as well as a 18-24 months cycle on introducing a completely new series. they must to this to survive, consumers always prefer the recent and most "technologically advance" product. if Yonex doesn't come up with one, then consumers will go to another brand. in fact, Yonex has stopped pushing the MP100 into the market. even from the pros. you will see that Yonex is encouraging them to use the MP99, and more recently, the AT700/800. the bright yellow MP99 has a much higher exposure in the pro circuit and from market imho has replaced MP100 as the flagship.